Apparatus for handling ore.



C. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY27. 1911.

Pate nted Nov. 7, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attorney c. 11. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2'7. 191] 1,007,762. Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

a SHEETS-$112131 z.

Invuntor O. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 27. 1911 Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

8 SHEETS SHEET 3.

Witnesses:

C. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

B SHEETS--SHEET 4 %'ZZ%W% By & Attorne Witnesses:

.u. 11. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING 0111:.

APPLICATION FILED 111111127. 1911 Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

8 SHEBTS- SHEET 5.

Witnesses:

l 11' ll i o U. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

APPLIUA'IION 11111111111117.1911,

1,007, 762 Patented Nov. 7. 1911,

.1 SHEETS SHEET 6 C. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1911 & Attorncy n 7 w B r r V m mm G v v W w w W m 8 9 t W j y m a E 3 W 1 I. G .V/ |l|| I I. 3% 0 /E 1 M W 2 A w 9/ E w 0 d1 5, s -O .U M L- i 4 w 9% 5 .MD/ n a 5 [D 2 6 K P k. 6 m 7 H H m m w U M L I .F 1 W04 e O. H. WRIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

AIILH'ATION-FILEI) MAY 1911.

Patented Nov. 7. 1911.

R $HEETS SHEET 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WRIGHT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BROWN I-IOISTING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, INCORPORATED.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ORE.

, particularly to the special class of machinery for loading and unloading ore, coal and like gross material into or from vessels, cars, stockpiles, etc., wherein the bucket is hoisted, lowered and generally controlled in its filling movements by a stiff, depending-leg or member, in contradistinction to the flexible rope and sheave system of the earlier types,

and the principal object and aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the" class referred to that, by reason of its peculiar design and principle of construction, shall afford a maximum of efficiency at a minimum of constructive and operative cost.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus as a whole. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same when the apron is removed and the bucket in its raised position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 2 .2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 3 g of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the trolley and a portion of the depending-leg or member carried thereby. Fig. 6 is an end view of the same. 7 is a horizontal section on the line to w of Fig. 2. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 15, of tubular sections that make up said member. Fig. 10 is a side view of the lower end of said member and of the upper portion of the attached bucket. same. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line '10 '20 in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 shows the leg in a retracted position with the lower portion of the inner tubular section removed. Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the same on the line a; o of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the lines at u of said last named figure. Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on the lines 2 t of Fig. 14. Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on the lines 8 s of Fig. 9. Fig. 18 is a side view of the leg when the bucket is in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1911.

Fig.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

Serial No. 629,957.

position for operation at one side of its horizontal line of travel. Fig. 19 is a rear end VIEW, of the transfer car arrangement shown 1n Fig. l, and, Fig. 20 is a broken side view thereof through its vertical dimensions.

In the drawings A is a supporting framework, of any approved form of construction, on which the operative parts of the apparatus are duly located. It is here indicated as movably mounted on a track along the front of a dock and as arched above or straddling railroad tracks upon which cars may be brought up to receive their loads. Transversely through the framework and overhanging the same at each side, after the manner of the so-called fast plants employed in ore-handling operations, parallel horizontal girders G G extend with rails r r thereon through their entire length. The framework may itself be mounted upon rails so as to be movable from one working station to another, or, of course, may be definitelv located at a fixed point. As indicated in Fig. 1, the forward portion of said girders is adapted to be retracted upwardly and withdrawn from its horizontal position when the apparatus is being moved to a new station or is to be idle.

Upon the girders G, and adapted to travel along the rails r, on the wheels W I provide a rectangular frame-work wheel-truck or trolley T at the front and rear ends of which are located, in a casing C provided for the purpose, a set of three parallel sheaves, the middle sheave in each set being designated by E, and the outer sheaves by E -The castings in which these sets are mounted are pivoted to the trolley-frame by pins, as indicated at 7". As the immediate supporting and actuating medium for the depending-leg in this case, a turntable H is provided centrally of the trolley.. It is made up of a fixed ring-piece R that carries a continuous rail 1 around. its upper side on which a series of preferably flanged rollers W are designed to travel. Theserolle-rs are revolubly connected to a cencentric band F radially to the ring-piece R. Resting on these rollers, along a continuous rail?" on the lower side of the same, is a second ringpiece R corres onding in shape and construction with t e ring-piece R, and within and secured to the ring-piece R on opposite sides thereof, two parallel trunnion-plates P extend downwardly through the ring B. At

I suitable bearings, above and on one side of the lower portion of said plates are holes h to receive, at an operative fit, trunnions U on the opposite sides and near the lower end of a leg-sleeve S. The last named part is an extended tubular section that is held in suspension within the turntable H by the engagement of its trunnionswith the trunnionplat-es P just described. The turntable H is rotated by means of a rope Q that passes around the ring-piece R and a drum d, on the trolley and in line with the same, which is actuated by a special motor M provided for the purpose. To eifect a tilting of the sleeve S upon the trunnions U, and a consequent directing of the depending-leg, away from the vertical as the process of getting a load demands, I locate a crank-shaft C in the ring-piece R and parallel with the axis of the trunnions U.

Connecting, rods 0 extend from the shaft, at opposite sides of the leg-sleeve S, where theyare pivotally fastened to said sleeve through the brackets B. As indicated in the drawings (Figs. 6 and 7 the shaft C is actuated by a special motor M on the trolley T, through a worm and gear mechanism providedfor the purpose.

The depending-leg, above referred to, is-

herein designated, as a whole, by L. It includes the leg-sleeve S as a primary section of the same and subordinate tubular sections S and S which are of suitable dimensions with respect to each other 7 and the primary section S, to permit said subordinate sections to be successively telescoped one within the other, asshown in Figs. 2, 13 and let. As a' desirable feature to insure a perfect alinement of said sections relatively to each other, a series of equi-distant longitudinal guide-rails g and g are located on the exterior surface of, respectively, the sections S and S and a pair of alinement-rings a and n, are located within, respectively the sleeve S and the tubular section S next in the series, with gaps or interruptions at p and p for the admission through and engagement therewith of said upright guide-rails g and. 9 An intermediate guard-rail g is shown, up and down the lowermost of said sections, S for the purpose of receiving the impact in the event of the leg-encountering the sides of a hatch, as it is raised with the load.

Exteriorly of the sections S and S at or near their upper ends, are annular stops or rims m and m to respectively bring up and bear against the uppermost alinement-rings n and 12 when said sections are in their S are two opposing pairs of sheaves e 6. These sheaves serve or assist in sustaining the section S within the section S under the condition of movement. required, and this result is effected by anchoring ropes 7c to the rim m at, respectively, two diametrical points thereon, and-carying the same downwardly and around one member respectively in the pairs of sheaves e thence upwardly, in a loop, around the side-sheaves e e on the outside of the sleeve S, down and around the other member in each pair of sheaves e and, upwardly again to the stop or rim m and a fixed anchorage there. At and around the top of the leg-sleeve S, of the leg L, I provide a second turntable H of a similar constructive design as the turntable H, its lower ring-section E on which rollers are arranged to revolve, being fixed to S, and, the upper of said sections R resting on the rollers, and serving as a base or support for two sets of three sheaves each, on opposite sides of the section, the middle sheave of each set being designated by E and the outer sheaves At approximately the middle point within the leg-sleeve S, are a pair of parallel struts a, a, extending cross-wise of the same, to which is attached a pair of swiveled lifting sheaves E? E around which are severally reaved ropes K that pass, on one side of their sheaves, upwardly around sheaves E E on the turntable H down around the sheaves E E on the trolley T, to an anchorage at the outer end of the girders G, and, on the other side of said sheaves, upwardly around the unoccupied sheaves E E ,.do wn around sheaves E E to sheaves E E, on the farther or inner end of the girders G, and, thence, back over deflecting sheaves E E on the framework A, to a source of power at I. In this manner, as will'be apparent, when the leg L is rotated within the trolley T, a fixed relation of the sheaves E and E and the ropes K interreaved between the same, is insured.

To provide for the closing-rope of the bucket that is to be connected with the apparatus, I locate within the fixed sleeve or section S, above and intermediately of the pair of sheaves-E a lifting-sheave E that is swiveled to a rod Z that extends downwardly therefrom between the pair of sheaves E and through their swivel below. To the lower end of this rod, a sheave E is attached and below the latter, upon transverse frameworks a and a provided for the purpose, are duly mounted an upper and lower pair of deflecting sheaves E", E and E E To provide for the due connection of the bucket itself to said leg, I afiix a cylindrical casting D to and around the extreme lower end of the tubular section S the said casting having hub-like projections D ,,D on each side of the same in line with a chord of the casting, and a continuous hole or holes in alinement with each other through said projections across the casting itself. In the illustrations the bucket N is of the grab-bucket type wherein the opposing blades open by gravity but are invariably closed by chains or ropes that engage and raise a cross-head within the same. For the efiicient operation of this kind of bucket, and to obtain a maximum load in each case, it is important that, when the bucket is landed on the source of supply, it shall be entirely free to adapt itself to the contour of the material from which the grab is to be made. This is always the condition of its operation when used in connection with the flexible hoisting and closing methods of the rope-and-sheave system for which it was originally designed, and it is equally desir able, that any combination of this type of bucket with the stifldeg system of hoist,

shall fully take into account and provide for this operative feature. The apparatus and invention in question, accordingly involves the attachment of the grab-bucket N to the hoisting-leg L in a manner that allows a free movement of the bucket in a direction parallel to its sides, but that holds it rigidly in a direction atright angles thereto. In consequence the bucket may be landed in a normal working position against the sloping face of a stockpile, for instance, with both blades in firm contact therewith, and without undue strain on either the dependingleg or the bucket itself. Said attachment, in the specific instances shown, is effected by loosely hanging the grab-bucket N through holes in the top of its sides to the projecting ends of a pin D that is passed in through the hole referred to in the casting D, and extends or overhangs outwardly thereof, at either side, for the purpose. In this manner the bucket is hinged or flexibly connected to the leg L at one side thereof, and under conditions that insure the most eifective working of the same.

A bucket-closing rop'e K is shown as pass ing around a sheave in the cross-head in the bucket upwardly and around an intermedial drum J, thence upwardly between the defleeting sheaves E and E to and around the sheave E on the rod Z, downwardly. in a reverse course, to and around asec'ond and similar drum J, to a junction with its other end at the place of starting. Although I show a double system of closing ropes in the drawings it is manifest that a single rope system, with anchorage at the upper and lower terminal points can be employed instead.

The system just followed out through the drawings is further extended by the rope K that passes around the sheave E, already described, on one side thereof, upwardly and around the central member E of one set of the sheaves that are mounted on. the turntable H and down and around the sheave E, on the front of the trolley T, to an anchorage at the outer end of the girders G, and, on the other side, upwardly and around the companion sheave E on said turntable,

thence downwardly, around the sheave E on the rear of the trolley, to and around a sheave E at the inner end of said girders, and from there backwardly, over a deflectin'g sheave E on the framework A, to the source of power at I.

Downwardly. sloping projections g are shown at the lower end of the leg L to shield the bucket and its connections from contact with hatches as theyare raised through the same: Also, the requisite port-holes for the convenience of the operator who will be stationed immediately within the section S at that portion of said leg, with controllers for the various motors within convenient reach (Figs. 10 and 12).

-As an'auxiliary feature of the apparatus a transfer-hopper X is arrangedto travel beneath the girders G and the upper range of movement of the leg L and bucket N. This is effected, in the particular manner chosen to illustrate the idea herein, by suspending the rectangular hopper-body X, by hanger-like members V and V that take hold of the hopper at or near the several corners, from wheels W mounted on the lower inside flanges of said girders. These members should be wide enough apart to permit the passage of the leg and bucket therethrough as they are carried along by the overhead trolley T.

A motor M is shown within the hopperframe for traversing the same which movement is brought about by a rope system wherein ropes K K anchored at the forward end of the girders G, are led to and around sheaves E at the upper part of V, (Fig. 20) thence downwardly to and around sheaves E on the same members, backwardly to grip-sheaves E mounted at the rear end of the hopper, thence forwardly to and around sheaves E carried by a projecting framework on the same, upwardly behind deflecting sheaves E to and around sheaves E on the upper part of the hangers V thence to and around sheaves E" and E at the rear end of .the girders G, from whence said ropes are carried back over sheaves E to take-up drums J on the top of the framework A and fastened.

The hopper is duly equipped with discharge gates which are indicated by the dotted lines a, 2' in Fig. 20, and, a weighing machine Y, for determining the amount ofthe' discharges therethrough from time to time, may be located below said hopper, as shown in the full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, to travel, on special rails r and a supporting framework G therefor. An operators station may conveniently be located upon the hopper from which its movements and those of the weighing machine may be directed.

To assist the hoisting and telescopic movements of the leg-parts S and S counterweights Z are introduced. These are carried by ropes K with one end of the same anchored to the girders G, behind the frameley T'is run out along its track by its own motor M until it is above a given hatch, with the sections S and S telescoped rela; tively to the leg-sleeve S and to each other and the bucket N swinging therefrom around the pin D Thereupon, the rope K is paid out from the source of power, over its various sheaves with the result that E sustained by said rope, and'the tubular section S depending from said sheave, will both descend. This movement will necessarily lower the supporting-sheaves (2, upon the section S and permit the latter part to itself descend through the leg-sleeve S, simul-' taneously, with the section S but to only one-halfthe distance, and the leg L, as a whole, to extend to the full limit of its vertical travel or movement. Meanwhile the either bucket, leg-for the inner bottom of the vessels hold. The bucket may now be ime mediately'closed around its load, and raised, by first-taking in on the ropes :K until the bucket is closed and, then, at the same pace on the-rope K, whereupon the telescoping of the parts S and- S and the consequent ele-.

I I vating of thebucket and load must follow.

as a reverse operation to that above describedfor lowering the bucket. When the leg is in thismanner withdrawn uponitself, within the sleeve-part S, it will, of course,

be poised upon its trunnions on and through the trolley T, and in, position to be carried by the latter backwardly along the girders G 'to any point for unloadingbeneath their span. course, by paying out the closing-ropes K and the discharge itself may be made either directly into cars or stock-pile, th

first instance, into the transfencar or hopper X-.. In the latter case, obviously the more economical practice will be to run the hopper 'out and receive the load of the bucket This last operation is :eifected, of"

therein when the latter has been raised by the leg L to its highest-position, whereby the necessity of any horizontal movement of the leg and load will be avoided. The hopper may then be traversed backwardly, and its contents discharged into the weighing machine, cars or stockpile while the bucket is being again lowered and a new load brought up. Of course, loading from stockpile to-cars or vessel is substantially a reverse operation to that abovedescribed, and, manifestly by reason of the two-way movement upon the turntable H and its trunnions U, of which the leg L is capable-the leg, as desired,'m'ay be so rotated and tilted as to be directed toward, and thesbucket placed upon material at any point off the vertical that is within the predetermined limit of the legs said inclination or tilting movement. (See Fig. 18, and the dotted lines at the rear end of G, Fig. 1.)- Further, the employment of intermedial drums J, at the against which te closing-ropes may be wound or bear, is regarded as an important special feature in an apparatus of the general type involved, inasmuch as, by such arrangement, said ropes will have a common point of radiation or revolution with the bucket itself and, consequently, will not be brought up against the edge of the leg no matter what angle with respect to the latter the bucket assumes.

Although, in the embodiment of my invention described, I show a telescopic depending-leg and one that is made up of tubular sections, I do not wish to thereby limit ithe same, when broadly considered, to such special forms of construction, nor, in this sense,.are the particular forms of reaving, the number and location of sheaves, the par: ticular method and manner of supporting,

rotating andtilting the leg, and other details shown, to be treated as essential specifications and restrictions in the premises. The several sections of the leg, for instance, may be made up of frame-work instead of integral material, and the vertically movingportion of said leg, instead of being'in distinct parts or sections, may be in a single piece, without, in eithervcase, departing from the invention as broadly claimed.

Having thus described my said invention as the. same is mpresented in a concrete working-structure, what I claim and desir .to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. an apparatus for handling ore, the combination of a framework, a trackway supported by and overhanging the same, a

trolley having a rotatable turntable on said trackway, a vertically-adjustable leg pivot,

ally suspended fromand through said turntable, and a grab-bucket pivotally connected to said leg, together with suitable means for severally traversing said trolley along said trackway, rotating said turntable on said trolley, actuating said leg about its pivotal suspension thereon and vertically within said turntable, and, for opening and closing said bucket, all substantially as shown anddescribed. v

2'. In an apparatus for handling ore, the combination of a framework, a trackway supported by and overhanging the same,-a

trolley on said trackway, a vertically-adjust able hollow leg rotatably and pivotally suspended from and through said trolley, a bucket connected to said leg, and means for, severally, moving said leg rotatively, pivotally and vertically on and in respect to said trolley, traversing thetrolley along its trackway, and for opening and closing the bucket about its load, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an unloading apparatus a horizontal trackway, a trolley mounted thereon a turntable on the trolley, a vertically adjustable leg pivotally supported on the turntable, a bucket pivotally connected to the leg, and mechanism 'forseverally rotating the turntable on the trolley, moving the leg aboutits pivotal support thereon, adjusting the leg vertically, traversing the trolley along the trackway, and opening and closing the bucket about a load, substantially as shown on the trolley, traverse the trolley along said trackway and open and close the bucket, substantially as shown and described.

5. In anunloading apparatus, the combination of aitrackway having a clear spacecentrally thereof, a trolley mounted on said trackway across said space, a de ending-leg mountedon said trolley rotative y with respect'to both its longitudinaland its transverse axis, and made up of a series ofi tubular sectionssuitably related,rto be moved telescopicallyvwith respect to each other when force is'-' :='app lied for the purpose, a bucket hinged-crosswise oftthe same to the innermember of saidfiseries, and suitable means for, severally, applying the force necessary to move said sections telescopically with re- 7 spectyto each other as stated, rotate said leg non trolley on either or both of its said axes, traversetrolley along said track way, and open and close said bucket, all substantially'as shown and described. v

6. In an unloading apparatus, the combi: nation of a trackway havinga clear space centrally therethrough, a trolley mounted thereon" across said space, a, leg-sleeve mounted on said trolley rotatively with re spect to both its-longitudinal and its'transverse axis, a hollow leg suitably connected to said leg-sleeve to rotate therewith when said sleeve is rotated uponsaid trolley, and

to be moved up and down within the same when force is applied forthe' purpose, a

bucket, hinged cross-wise of the same to the lower end of said leg, and suitable -means for, severally, applying said up-and d'own moving-force, rotating. said sleeve on either or both of said axes, traversing said trolley along said trackway,-- and opening and closing said bucket, substantially as'show'n and described. 1

7, In an unloading apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame having a laterally extensible. trackway'with a clear space centrally of the; same, ofa trolley mounted thereon across said space, '--a leg- -sleeve mounted on said trolley rotatively with respect toboth its longitudinal and its transverse axis, a. hollow leg" suitably connected to said leg-sleeveto rotate therewith when said sleeve is-rotated upon said trolley, and to be moved up and down within the same when-force is applied'for the purpose, a bucket connected to the lower end of said leg, and suitable means .for', severally, ap-- plying said. up and down moving force, rotating said sleeve on either or both. of said axes, traversing.- said trolley along said trackway and, opening and closing said bucket, substantially as shown and described.

nation, with a supporting frame, of a beamstruoture therethrough that is extensible laterally therefrom and has a clear space c'entrally of the same, a trackway on said beamstructure, a trolley traversibly mounted thereon across said space, .a hollow leg depending from and through said trolley having a grab-bucket hinged cross-wise to its lower end, and an inter-medial drum, for'the closin -ropes, revolu'b'l-y connected to said. endqa ong the line of the bucketshinged connection thereto, substantially as shown and described. a v

9. In an unloading apparatus, the combination, with a supporting framehavin a laterally extensible trackway thereon wit a clear space centrally ofthe same, of a trolley traversibly mounted on the upper side of" said trackway across said clear space, a ver{ tically movable-leg' 'rotatively mounted on said trolley with a grab-bucket hinged to the lower end offlthe same, a transfer-car suspended beneatii said clear space from wheels suitably mounted-on tracks therefor respec- 105 j 8. In an unloading apparatus, the combi- V t-ively located on said 'traekway at opposite sides of saidspace, together with suitable I means for, severally, rotating said leg with its tracks, and for opening and closing said bucket, all substantially as shown and described.

10. In an unloading apparatus comprising a supporting frame with a laterally extensible beam-structure therethrough having a clear space centrally of the same, and, a trolley traversibly mounted thereon across systems for sustaining, and cooperatively actuating said leg, bucket and trolley in their Various designed movements, substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES H. WRIGHT. In presence of WILLIs L. Wnsroorr, L. P.- SIPPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. G. 

